Apparatus for conditioning fluids



1NVEHTOE ATTOZNEY lJuly 10, 1934. c. c. HUBBELL APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING FLUIDS Filed July 18, 1955 Patented July 10, 1934 UNITED STATES ATENT VoFFicl:

The invention relates to apparatus for conditioning fluids, and more particularly to portable apparatus for conditioning air.

An object of the inventionis to provide for ithe elicient interchange of heat in iiuid conditioning apparatus.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide for mounting the parts of the apparatus to cooperate to best advantage and in such' a manner that one operating part will not impair the eiiiciency of another.

It is also an object of the invention to provide for heating or cooling the iiuid tobe conditioned.

Otherl objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a View in vertical ratus for conditioning fluids constructed in ac- 'cordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a View inivertical section taken along the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section of a modied form of the deflectors showing them adjustably mounted; and

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of asafety handle for operating the rheostat.

Referring now to the drawing, and Figures 1 and 2 in particular, Vthe apparatus for conditioning iiuids comprises a casing 10, whichA may be formed of sheet metal, ply-metal, or any other suitable material. In fabricating the preferred form of this casing, a sheet of galvanized steel or other suitable material is pressed to form a 35,tube of the desired cross-section. The meeting edges oi the sheet may be united by welding, thus forming a body for a cabinet.

A pan shaped member 11 conforming to the cross-section of the tubular member l() is fabricated of some suitable metal, such as galvanized steel. This pan is made small enough to fit into the tubular member 10 and is welded to it near its lower end, as shown at 12, thus providing a bottom for the cabinet.

When it is desired to make the apparatus portable, casters 13 are connected with the pan or bottom 11. The casters may be mounted in any manner well known in the art.

, A heat interchange device, shown generally at 14, is mounted in the cabinet 10. This heat interchange device comprises a receptacle 15, a plurality of depending vanes 16, and is provided With integral projecting supporting lugs hereinafter referred to. As illustrated in Figure 2, the varies 16 are evenly spaced and are wedge-shaped,

section of appaf being of the greatest width at their point of juncture with the bottom of the receptacle.

In this modication of the invention, the vanes extend only a little more than half way across the bottom of the receptacle.` 'I'his leaves a space 60;- below the receptacle for the mounting of a motor 17 and an impeller 18, which will be described in greater detail hereinafter. l

In order to support the heat interchange device le in the desired position in cabinet 10, a plurality oi outwardly extending lugs 19 are provided near the top and bottom of the receptacle. The number and size of these lugs will depend on the Weight they must carry. A

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, 701 the heat exchange device is a one-piece aluminum casting. Aluminum is utilized for the casting because it is light, has capacity to resist corrosion, and is a good conductor of heat. The parts are cast as an integral structure to avoid joints which j, generally restrict the even flow of heat.

. As shown, the heat exchangerdevice extends substantially the length of the cabinet, givingV a large area for the absorption and dissipation of heat.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a plurality of strips of wood, or yother insulating material, 20, are mounted in the casing 10 near its center. These strips of wood are retained in position by screws 21. Y 85 Asv illustrated, the lower lugs 19 of the heat interchange device 14 seat on the insulating strips 20. In this manner the heat interchange device 14 is supported in a predetermined central position in the casing 10.

A suitable insulatingmaterial 22 is packed between the receptacle 15 and the casing 10. When the insulation is inposition an insulating strip 23 similar to 20 is disposed -in the upper end of the casing to seat on the upper lugs 19 V:serving to 95 retain both the insulation and the heat interchange device in position.

A right angle groove 24 is provided in the upper inner portion of the strip r23 to present a seat for a lid 25.

As illustrated, the lid 25 comprises an outer steel member 26 having depending side walls which iit over the end of the casing 10, a layer of insulation 27, and a metal plate 28 for binding the insulation to the member 26. The plate 28 105 can be made of some suitable non-corrodible metal, such as aluminum. It not only serves to retain the insulation 27 in position, but protects it from moisture.

The walls of the receptacle 15 extend upwardly 110 into alignment with the seat for the lid formed in the strip 23. rI'hus when the lid is in position the metallic member 28 seats on the receptacle forming a metallic refrigerant container.

As shown, the heat intechange device 14 divides the casing into two compartments, The receptacle 15 extends upwardly into the upper compartment which is insulated, and the vanes 16 extend into the lower one. The insulation around the upper compartment retards direct contact of warm air with the upper walls of the receptacle and permits an eflicient heat transfer between the compartments.

As illustrated, an opening 29 is provided in one wall of the casing 10 in alignment with the vanes 16. A screen 30 is mounted over the opening 29 to prevent the entry of dirt and other deleterious matter that may be contained in the air to be circulated, On the opposite side of the casing from the opening 29, a plurality of openings 31 are provided by punching in portions of the wall forming louvers 32 for controlling the direction of discharge of the air or other fiuid to be conditioned,

Motor 17 and impeller 18, referred to hereinbefore, are provided for forcing a current of air between the vanes 16 to carry o-n an air or fluid conditioning process. In order to provide a flexible unit that will meet many conditions, a multispeed motor will be utilized.

In orderto so mount the motor 17 that it will not cause a vibration of the apparatus, a plurality of depending lugs 33 are provided on the bottom of the receptacle 15. A stirrup 34 is suspended from the lugs 33. Vibration absorbing pads, such as rubber sheets 35, are disposed between the stirrup 34 and lugs 33. When the motor is mounted in this manner practically no vibration is transmitted to the apparatus.

As illustrated, the motor is disposed directly beneath a portion of the receptacle 15. In order to prevent the transfer of heat from the motor to the receptacle, a layer of insulating material 36 ,i is disposed beneath the portion of the receptacle directly above the motor and is retained in position by a` U-shaped metallic plate 37. Electric heaters 38 are removably mounted in the receptacle 15 by means of brackets 39. The type of electric heater and its capacity will depend on the l through the socket 40.

conditions to be met in the operation of the apparatus.

Electrical energy for operating the motor 17 or for supplying the heaters 38, may be introduced This socket may be of any usual type having two connections one for the motor 17 and another for the heaters 38.

When a variable speed motor 17 is employed a rheostat, as illustrated at 41, is provided, for controlling the voltage impressed across the motor terminals in order that the speed may be varied if desired. In this instance, a rheostat having three contact points is illustrated, to indicate that a three-speed motor is employed.

'A second rheostat 42 is interposed between the socket 40 and the heaters 38 for controlling the current supplied to them. Three contact points are shown on the rheostat 42 to indicate that diiferent amounts of electrical energy may be sup- Y plied to the heaters, depending upon the temperature desired.

... such as air, a safety handle 43 is provided for actuating the rheostat 42. The handle is so constructed that it can only be attached to or removed from the shaft of the rheostat when the latter stands at its off position, that is, when the electrical circuit to the heaters is interrupted.

Therefore, if the handle is in position, the operator is put on his guard to observe whether or not the rheostat stands in its olf position. Before employing the apparatus as a refrigerator, the operator should turn the rheostat 42 to its off position and remove the handle.

The safety handle 43 may be of any well known type. The structure illustrated in Figure 4 comprises a handpiece having an opening for fitting over the rheostat shaft and a lug extending parallel with the handpiece. An opening is provided in the casing for receiving the lug. When the lug has been inserted into the casing and the handle rotated from its 01T position, the lug moves inside the casing and locks the handle against removal.

A valve controlled drain 44 is connected to the receptacle l5 and extends downwardly to a pan 45 disposed in the bottom of the casing 10. A valve handle provided in connection with the drain 44 extends through the casing to facilitate its operation.

In order to provide for the withdrawal of the pan 45 a portion of one side wall of the casing 10 is cut away making an opening the size of an end of the pan, as shown at 46. A portion 47 of the bottom 11 is cut awaydirectly beneath the outer end of the pan 45 to facilitate the withdrawal of the pan from the casing. A drainboard 51 is disposed on the casing 10 above the pan 45.

In mounting the socket 40 and rheostats 41 and 42, they are attached to the casing 10 before the insulation 22 is packed into position between the receptacle 15 and the casing 10, openings being provided in the casing for the actuating handles. In this manner all the Operating equipment is enclosed giving a compact and good appearing apparatus which will harmonize with oflice equipment or home furnishings.

In the modified structure illustrated in Figure 3, a discharge opening 48 is cut in the casing 10 opposite the intake 29. A plurality of pivotally mounted defiectors 49 which are connected together by bar 50 are mounted in the opening to control the direction at which the uid is discharged after having been conditioned.

In the operation of the air conditioning apparatus, assuming that it is desired to cool a uid such as air, some suitable refrigerant, such as ice or solid carbon dioxide, is introduced into the I# receptacle 15. rEhe temperature of the receptacle is soon lowered and heat is withdrawn from the vanes 1G. As soon as the temperature of the vanes has been lowered below that of the atmosphere, the motor 17 is set in operation causing a 'i4 change device 14 and the rate at which air is caused to flow through the passageway. The apparatus will be designed for the duties which it is to perform, that is to say, if the apparatus is to be utilized for heating or cooling a large storeroom, it will be made of much larger capacity I'.

life

than if it is to be utilized for heating or cooling a small office.

The process in the heat exchange device 14 may vary slightly with different refrigerants. When either ice or solid carbon dioxide is employed, the block of refrigerant is placed in direct contact with the bottom of the receptacle. The vanes 16 absorb the heat from the air and convey it to the bottom of the receptacle and most of it is conducted through the bottom directly to the refrigerant. A small amount of the heat is conducted to the walls of the receptacle and is dissipated by convection currents and radiation and is also absorbed by the refrigerant.

Assuming that it is desired to utilize the apparatus for heating a fluid such as air, then the receptacle 15 is filled with water and electric current supplied to the heaters. The raising of the temperature of the water around the heaters will cause convection currents which will continually carry heat to the bottom and walls of the receptacle. The heat absorbed by the receptacle 15 is delivered to the vanes by conduction and finally dissipated to the air that ows between them.

The temperature to which the air is heated may be controlled by regulating the current delivered to the heaters and by varying the speed of the motor. With these two variables the conditioning apparatus may be regulated to meet the ordinary conditions for which such apparatus is designed. When extraordinary conditions of heating or cooling fluids are presented, apparatus involving the features of this invention maybe specially designed to take care of such conditions.

In the structure illustrated in Figure 1, air is discharged in the same direction all the time, while in the modified form illustrated in Figure 3, the deiiectors 49 may be set at any predetermined angle to the vertical to discharge the air in any predetermined direction.

Since the receptacle 15 is well insulated, the transfer of heat to and from the conditioning mediumis substantially confined to the heat interchange device 14, iiowing through the bottom of the receptacle and the vanes 16. As illustrated, the vanes which are substantialy wedge-shaped, are wider at the base than at the apex. 'I'his facilitates the transfer of heat to or from the receptacle.

Assuming that a refrigerating process is being carried on, then the heat is absorbed from the air by the vanes 16. The heat conducted to the bottom of the receptacle by any vane is delivered at the base of the vane.' Therefore a section taken at the base of the vane conducts more heat than any other part of the vane. It carries all the heat absorbed over the whole surface of the vane. In designing the vane its width in cross section will be varied in accordance with the amount of heat that it must carry, either in conducting heat to or away from the base of the receptacle.

Having described my invention, what I claim i as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for utilizing a conditioning medium for conditioning uids comprising a casing open at the top, an insulated support carried by the casing, a heat interchange unit comprising i a receptacle and a plurality of spaced vanes depending from the receptacle carried by the support, means for retaining the heat interchange unit in the casing, insulation disposed between the receptacle and casing and an insulated lid "Si for the open end of the casing, the heat interopen at the top and an insulating-support carried by the casing, a heat interchange unit mounted on the support the heat `interchange unit comprising a receptacle and a plurality of substantially evenly spaced vanes depending from the receptacle, the heat interchange unit being cast from a metal having great capacity for the conducting of heat, and means for insulating the receptacle from the casing to conne the exchange of heat, the heat interchange unit dividing the casing into two compartments, one for the conditioning medium and the other for the fluid to be conditioned, the casing having oppositely disposed openings to provide a passageway for the fluid to be conditioned, the openings being in alignment with the vanes.

3. In apparatus for conditioning fluids, in combination, a cabinety a heat interchange device disposed in the cabinet, the heat interchange device comprising a metallic receptacle and a plurality of vanes depending from the bottom of the receptacle, the vanes being confined to a portion of the bottom and cast integrally therewith, lugs formed integrally with the bottomk of the receptacle adjacent the vanes, a motor support depending from the lugs, and means for absorbing Vibrations interposed between the support and lugs.

4. In apparatus for conditioning fluids, in combination, a cabinet, a heat interchange device disposed in the cabinet, the heat interchange device oomprising a receptacle and a plurality of depending vanes cast integrally from a metal having capacity for conducting heat, the receptacle being spaced from the walls of the cabinet, laterally extending lugs cast integrally with the receptacle, supports of insulating material disposed on the cabinet to receive said lugs, and insulating material packed between the receptacle and cabinet.

5. In apparatus for conditioning fluids, in combination, a cabinet, a heat interchange device disposed in the cabinet, the heat interchange device comprising a receptacle and a plurality Vof evenly spaced wedge-shaped depending vanes cast integrally, the receptacle being spaced from the cabinet, control apparatus mounted on the cabinet in the space between the cabinet and receptacle, the cabinet having openings therein to give access to the control apparatus for operating it, and insulating material packed in the space between the cabinet and receptacle insulating the receptacle.

6. In an apparatus for conditioning fluids, in combination, a cabinet, a heat interchange device disposed in the cabinet and comprisng a unitary casting formed to provide a receptacle adapted to hold a refrigerating medium and vanes depending from the bottom portion of said casting and arranged in spaced relation to define airflow passages therebetween, a blower suspended from the bottom of said receptacle adjacent the end portions of said vanes, said cabinet having air ingress and egress openings arranged below the plane of the bottom of the receptacle.

7. In an apparatus for cooling air, a cabinet having its upper portion provided with internal insulation and its lower portion constituting an being of a length less than the length of the bottom of the receptacle whereby to provide a space beneath the receptacle within the cabinet, and blower means arranged in said space and adjacent said varies for eiecting flow of air through the passageway into direct heat exchange relation with said Vanes and out of said passageway.

CHARLES C. HUBBELL. 

